Francis Kurkdjian

Francis Kurkdjian was born in Paris on May 14, 1969, to Armenian parents. He initially aspired to become a ballet dancer before pivoting to chemistry and fragrance. In 1990 he entered ISIPCA in Versailles, graduating in 1993 and joining Quest International. In 1995, at just twenty-six years old, he composed Le Male for Jean Paul Gaultier, which became one of the world's best-selling fragrances.

Kurkdjian went on to create for virtually every major fashion and beauty house, including Narciso Rodriguez for Her and Burberry Her. In 2001 he received the Prix François Coty. In 2009 he co-founded Maison Francis Kurkdjian with business partner Marc Chaya, building the house into a benchmark of contemporary niche luxury perfumery. LVMH acquired the Maison in 2017. In October 2021, Christian Dior appointed Kurkdjian as its creative director of perfume.